Captain Rasmussen served on active duty from 20 October 1951 to 30 July 1983 and accumulated 5,000 total flight hours with 600 carrier/ship landings or “traps.”[3]
Designated a Naval Aviator on 10 March 1953, his first flee tour was with VF-51 Screaming Eagles at NAS Miramar flying Grumman F9F-2B Panther and North American FJ3 Fury aircraft from 1953-56.
After this tour his prowess as a pilot led to his selection as a Blue Angel. Initially flying the F9F-2B Panther, he participated in the introduction of the Grumman F11F Tiger in the Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team in April 1957. While flying the Tiger with the Blues, he made the first successful “engine out” landing in an F-11. He remained with the Blues until 1960.[4]
He returned to the fleet in 1960 at NAS Oceana with VF-33 then known as the Astronauts. In early 1961, he participated in another airframe transition (the squadron’s fourth jet fighter in seven years), the F8U-1E Crusader as the squadron changed its name back to Tarsiers. He deployed with VF-33 aboard USS Intrepid (CV-11) to the Mediterranean in 1961-62.[5]
After staff assignments and US Naval Post Graduate School from 1962-1966, he returned to the F-8 community and Miramar at VF-124 Gunfighters, the F-8 fleet replacement squadron (FRS) as prospective Executive Officer (XO) for VF-111 Sundowners. He deployed in the June 1966 onboard the USS Oriskany in Carrier Air Group Sixteen (CVG-16) as the XO. During the cruise, he flew in combat in Operation Rolling Thunder flying on two to three times daily Alpha Strikes into the heart of North Vietnam His Vietnam war experiences, including surviving the fire aboard Oriskany, have been documented in several books.[6][7] While accumulating over 200 combat missions on this deployment, he took command of VF-111 and brought it back to Miramar after the deployment.
Post command, he served as the Aviation Junior Officer Detailer at BUPERS from 1968-1970. In 1970, he reported to NAS Lemoore to qualify in the A-7 Corsair prior to taking command of CVG-16. He commanded the air group until 1971 when he transferred to Carrier Division SEVEN at sea off Vietnam to serve as the Chief of Staff. In 1972, he reported to Concord, California and took command of USS Mount Hood, a Kilauea-class ammunition ship whom he took on deployment again to the sea off Vietnam. After successfully completing his tour as Captain of this ship, he moved to Puerto Rico where he became the commanding officer at NS Roosevelt Roads. He remained there until 1976, when he became Director of Aviation Officer Distribution at BUPERS.
In 1980, he returned to the starting place of his Naval Aviation career when he became the Commanding Officer of Naval Aviation Schools Command, Pensacola, FL, a position he held until his retirement in 1983.
Post Navy career
Due to his prowess as an artist, his knowledge of US Naval Aviation history, and his lengthy aviation career, he was asked to join the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation as vice president upon his retirement. In 1987, he fleeted up to Director and oversaw the museum’s expansion in which its size and operation was increased 300% and collection was increased over 400%. He was inducted into the Naval Aviation Hall of Honor in 2008,[8] and was awarded the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award on 24 September 2009. Captain Rasmussen retired as the Director of the museum on September 30, 2014.[9]
Art career
A prolific artist, Rasmussen has created hundreds of Naval Aviation paintings in watercolor, oil and acrylic. His bronze sculptures include the design of the Spirit of Naval Aviation, displayed at the front entrance of the National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola, Florida, the Alan Shepard memorial heroic figure[10] at the Astronaut Hall of Fame, and the World War II[11] and Korean War[12] memorials in Pensacola, Florida. His works have been displayed around the country, including the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida, and the NASA Museum at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Rasmussen is the recipient of the R.G. Smith Award for Excellence in Naval Aviation Art,[13]
Personal life
Captain Rasmussen is married to the former Phyllis Colter of Pensacola. They have two children, daughter Kathryn and son Eric; Eric is also a retired Navy Captain, Naval Aviator and career F/A-18 Hornet pilot.
References
^"Combat in the Sky: The Art of Air Warfare", by Philip Handleman, Zenith Press Published 2003, ISBN0-7603-1468-3
^"Hidden History Links Airplane to Retiring Museum Director". National Naval Aviation Museum. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
^"Over the Beach: The Air War in Vietnam" (Paperback), by Zalin Grant (Author), W. W. Norton & Company; New Ed edition (April 2005) ISBN0-393-32727-2, ISBN978-0-393-32727-4
^"F-8 Crusader Units of the Vietnam War" by Peter B. Mersky, 1998, Osprey Publishing, ISBN1-85532-724-4
robert, rasmussen, robert, rasmussen, born, 1930, vista, california, noted, military, artist, retired, captain, united, states, navy, former, career, naval, aviator, primarily, crusader, former, member, navy, flight, demonstration, squadron, blue, angels, form. Robert L Bob Rasmussen born May 26 1930 in Rio Vista California is a noted military artist a retired Captain of the United States Navy a former career naval aviator primarily in the F 8 Crusader a former member of the U S Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron the Blue Angels and former Director of the National Naval Aviation Museum at NAS Pensacola Florida 1 2 Bob RasmussenBorn 1930 05 26 May 26 1930 age 92 Rio Vista CaliforniaAllegianceUnited States of AmericaService wbr branchUnited States NavyRankCaptainCommands heldVF 111USS Mount Hood AE 29 Naval Station Roosevelt Roads Puerto RicoNaval Aviation Schools CommandBattles warsKorean WarVietnam WarAwardsLegion of MeritDistinguished Flying CrossHeroic size bronze statues surround Roman numeral II and V at the WWII Memorial in Pensacola Florida by R L Rasmussen Contents 1 Naval career 2 Post Navy career 3 Art career 4 Personal life 5 References 6 External linksNaval career EditCaptain Rasmussen served on active duty from 20 October 1951 to 30 July 1983 and accumulated 5 000 total flight hours with 600 carrier ship landings or traps 3 Designated a Naval Aviator on 10 March 1953 his first flee tour was with VF 51 Screaming Eagles at NAS Miramar flying Grumman F9F 2B Panther and North American FJ3 Fury aircraft from 1953 56 After this tour his prowess as a pilot led to his selection as a Blue Angel Initially flying the F9F 2B Panther he participated in the introduction of the Grumman F11F Tiger in the Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team in April 1957 While flying the Tiger with the Blues he made the first successful engine out landing in an F 11 He remained with the Blues until 1960 4 He returned to the fleet in 1960 at NAS Oceana with VF 33 then known as the Astronauts In early 1961 he participated in another airframe transition the squadron s fourth jet fighter in seven years the F8U 1E Crusader as the squadron changed its name back to Tarsiers He deployed with VF 33 aboard USS Intrepid CV 11 to the Mediterranean in 1961 62 5 After staff assignments and US Naval Post Graduate School from 1962 1966 he returned to the F 8 community and Miramar at VF 124 Gunfighters the F 8 fleet replacement squadron FRS as prospective Executive Officer XO for VF 111 Sundowners He deployed in the June 1966 onboard the USS Oriskany in Carrier Air Group Sixteen CVG 16 as the XO During the cruise he flew in combat in Operation Rolling Thunder flying on two to three times daily Alpha Strikes into the heart of North Vietnam His Vietnam war experiences including surviving the fire aboard Oriskany have been documented in several books 6 7 While accumulating over 200 combat missions on this deployment he took command of VF 111 and brought it back to Miramar after the deployment Post command he served as the Aviation Junior Officer Detailer at BUPERS from 1968 1970 In 1970 he reported to NAS Lemoore to qualify in the A 7 Corsair prior to taking command of CVG 16 He commanded the air group until 1971 when he transferred to Carrier Division SEVEN at sea off Vietnam to serve as the Chief of Staff In 1972 he reported to Concord California and took command of USS Mount Hood a Kilauea class ammunition ship whom he took on deployment again to the sea off Vietnam After successfully completing his tour as Captain of this ship he moved to Puerto Rico where he became the commanding officer at NS Roosevelt Roads He remained there until 1976 when he became Director of Aviation Officer Distribution at BUPERS In 1980 he returned to the starting place of his Naval Aviation career when he became the Commanding Officer of Naval Aviation Schools Command Pensacola FL a position he held until his retirement in 1983 Post Navy career EditDue to his prowess as an artist his knowledge of US Naval Aviation history and his lengthy aviation career he was asked to join the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation as vice president upon his retirement In 1987 he fleeted up to Director and oversaw the museum s expansion in which its size and operation was increased 300 and collection was increased over 400 He was inducted into the Naval Aviation Hall of Honor in 2008 8 and was awarded the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award on 24 September 2009 Captain Rasmussen retired as the Director of the museum on September 30 2014 9 Art career EditA prolific artist Rasmussen has created hundreds of Naval Aviation paintings in watercolor oil and acrylic His bronze sculptures include the design of the Spirit of Naval Aviation displayed at the front entrance of the National Museum of Naval Aviation Pensacola Florida the Alan Shepard memorial heroic figure 10 at the Astronaut Hall of Fame and the World War II 11 and Korean War 12 memorials in Pensacola Florida His works have been displayed around the country including the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D C the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola Florida and the NASA Museum at Cape Canaveral Florida Rasmussen is the recipient of the R G Smith Award for Excellence in Naval Aviation Art 13 Personal life EditCaptain Rasmussen is married to the former Phyllis Colter of Pensacola They have two children daughter Kathryn and son Eric Eric is also a retired Navy Captain Naval Aviator and career F A 18 Hornet pilot References Edit Combat in the Sky The Art of Air Warfare by Philip Handleman Zenith Press Published 2003 ISBN 0 7603 1468 3 Hidden History Links Airplane to Retiring Museum Director National Naval Aviation Museum 30 September 2014 Retrieved 8 March 2020 http www epnaao com BIOS files REGULARS Rasmussen 20Robert 20L pdf bare URL PDF http www epnaao com BIOS files REGULARS Rasmussen 20Robert 20L pdf bare URL PDF http www epnaao com BIOS files REGULARS Rasmussen 20Robert 20L pdf bare URL PDF Over the Beach The Air War in Vietnam Paperback by Zalin Grant Author W W Norton amp Company New Ed edition April 2005 ISBN 0 393 32727 2 ISBN 978 0 393 32727 4 F 8 Crusader Units of the Vietnam War by Peter B Mersky 1998 Osprey Publishing ISBN 1 85532 724 4 Virginian Pilot June 20 2008 pg B4 http epilot hamptonroads com Default Scripting ArticleWin asp From Archive amp Source Page amp Skin VirginianPilotA amp BaseHref VirginianPilot 2008 06 20 amp PageLabelPrint B4 amp EntityId Ar01601 amp ViewMode GIF Davis Marketta Rasmussen to retire after 27 years Pensacola News Journal Retrieved 2021 12 11 Spirit of First American In Space Remembered By Todd Halvorson Cape Canaveral Bureau Chief 21 March 2000 City of Pensacola Official Website City of Pensacola Official Website Naval Aviation News July August 1998 pg 43 http www history navy mil nan backissues 1990s 1998 ja98 ppp pdfExternal links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Robert L Rasmussen http www rrasmussen com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert L Rasmussen amp oldid 1115832980, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
